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 Born in
Carlisle, Kentucky, Ann was the oldest of five children. Although an
outstanding elementary school student, she left school at the age of 13
to help support her family. She first became interested in social work
at age 18 while working at the Anna Louise Inn, a residence for working
women. Her next employment was an as a dental assistant at
Cincinnati’s first free children’s dental clinic. Earning $6.00 a
week.
At age 25
she passed an examination for a high school equivalency diploma and was
encouraged to go to dental school. She was one of three women in a class
of 47 at Western Reserve University in Cleveland and was honored by
being named speaker at her graduating class dinner. Ann was placed
second out of 160 dentists who took the state board examinations that
year.
At the age
of 28 in 1919, Ann was offered a good job in the dental office of the
Dean of the Dental Department at Western Reserve. However, fragile
health forced her return to Cincinnati and she took a part time job as
Supervisor of the Dental Clinics. She married dentist Dr. Carl Becker in
1922 and they opened their first dental practice together. When their
son, Robert A. Becker, was born in 1925, they moved to Mariemont where
they were among the first residents on Chestnut Street. Soon after Ann
opened her Mariemont dental office in the Ripley Apartments in the Old
town Center.
Her
foremost concern was the welfare of children and as Chairman of the
Child Welfare for the Federation of Mother’s Clubs in Cincinnati, she
helped found the Summer Round Up, a medical-dental checkup for
pre-kindergartners and introduced this program to Dale Park School. In
the early 1930’s she was the Health Director of the Ohio Congress of
P.T.A. She was President of the Cincinnati Council of P.T.A. in 1936-38.
She also found time to serve as President of the Mariemont P.T.A. and
was active in the League of Women Voters. As her dental practice grew,
she moved offices to the Mariemont Inn and then in 1933 to the little
cottage at the rear of the Becker residence on Fieldhouse way, where her
son Robert Becker continued to practice until 1996.
She had
established a formidable reputation and at age 50 she was elected to the
first Village Council in 1941. Ann was an advocate for citizen’s
rights and adequate pay for police, fire and maintenance department
personnel. She tackled the tough task of establishing building codes.
Although she and Mayor Boyd Jordan had a great mutual respect for each
other, there was undoubtedly much friction between them, although this
was confined to council matters. She was so highly regarded by Council
that when, due to ill health in 1949, she offered her resignation, it
was refused. Council stated they would rather have a sick Ann Becker
than anyone else! However, during the next year health deteriorated and
she died on April 14th, 1950.
The
park bounded by the block of Chestnut, Beech, Murray and Oak is
dedicated as the Ann Buntin Becker Park, appropriated because of her
lifelong devotion to the welfare of children. An issue of the
Cincinnati Parent Teacher News called her a “crusader” and
stated “Her strength of character is much admired and envied.”
1941 Mariemont Council
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